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LXXXVI Due donne in cima de la mente mia venute sono a ragionar d'amore: l'una ha in sé cortesia e valore, prudenza e onestà in compagnia; l'altra ha bellezza e vaga leggiadria, adorna gentilezza le fa onore: e io, merzé del dolce mio signore, mi sto a piè de la lor signoria. Parlan bellezza e virtù a l'intelletto, e fan quistion come un cor puote stare intra due donne con amor perfetto. Risponde il fonte del gentil parlare ch'amar si può bellezza per diletto, e puossi amar virtù per operare. | LXXXVI Two women have come to the summit of my mind to speak of love. One is accompanied by courtesy and goodness, moral wisdom and decorum; the other has beauty and lovely charm, and fair nobility does her honour. And I --thanks to my dear Lord-- I kneel at their ladyships' feet. Beauty and Virtue speak to my intellect, debating the question how a heart can be divided between two ladies with perfect love. The source of noble speech pronounces thus: beauty can be loved for delight and virtue for the sake of action. |